AMANO calls for synergy among stakeholders to make Nigeria a great maritime nation
By Abimbola Abdullahi
The Alumnus of Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron (AMANO) has charted a course to making Nigeria a great maritime nation
The group, during a stakeholders meeting with the theme, “The State of the Nigerian Maritime Domain in 2022 and Beyond” in Lagos, highlighted various challenges hindering optimal explotaitation of maritime resources in the country.
Stakeholders at the programme believed that there are huge untapped maritime potentials in the country, urging the Federal Government and all industry players to brace up and exploit the benefits of the blue economy.
President of AMANO, Mr. Emmanuel Maiguwa said, with the advancement of ideas and technologies disrupting leading industries all over the world, it has become imperative that as leaders and players in the maritime industry of Nigeria, stakeholders must optimise all available resources and think outside the box to ensure that the Nigerian maritime industry is abreast and at par with standards and best practices all over the world.
Maiguwa noted that the theme, maritime domain in 2022 and beyond, seeks to promote synergy between members, agencies, and stakeholders towards offering sustainable solutions to the challenges of the maritime domain as well as encourage intellectual and emotional ties between the academia and practitioners in the maritime industry.
He called for improved welfare for seafarers, noting that there can’t be a maritime domain in Nigeria without the seafarers, because they transport 90 percent of goods globally.
Noting that the market exists, but Nigeria don’t have enough competent seafarers, he said the nation can benefit more from competent seafarers when local seafarers are developed to support National fleet.
The Managing DIrector/CEO of Starzs Marine and Engineering Limited, Greg Ogbeifun said Nigerian maritime industry has huge untapped potentials, adding that the major challenge is absence of cooperation and synergy that is required among stakeholders.
He also noted that there are so much frustration in the process of getting seafarers license and certification.
“The welfare of seafarers as enshrined in MSC2006, are poorly implemented,” he said.
He also noted that there are lack of ships to actualize good practical exposure for students to fulfil their internship and and seatime requirements on board ships
Meanwhile he bemoaned the stringent tax laws in Nigeria, saying that the recent efforts to establish a national fleet have made no headway due to the local tax laws.
He said Nigeria has some good policies but implementation is a major problem.
Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh said the nation’s seaborne trade has improved tremendously due to the restoration of safe maritime terrain in the Gulf of Guinea.
According to him, the international community has also attested to the fact that Nigerian waters are now free piracy.
He said the agency is also pursuing several initiatives to ensure that local capacity are developed in the industry.
